Voluntary Action Camden

We offer free training for Camden Trustees through our Better Governance Project.  The training aims to increase trustees’ confidence and skills in five areas of governance and management.  Click on the links below to find out more about the sessions, or read on for details of forthcoming dates and how to book a place. You can download the form at BG Booking Form 2012 FINAL.  Please contact us if you’d like to talk to someone about this course or any other aspect of Trustee training.

• Session 1:  Governance and Operations Management
• Session 2:  Legal duties of Trustees
• Session 3:  Partnership and Consortia Working
• Session 4:  Leadership and Strategic Planning
• Session 5:  Financial Management

As well as the five core sessions, there are two optional follow-on sessions:

• Fundraising Strategy (Optional 6th Session)
• Introduction to Teaching and Learning (Optional follow-on course)

For trustees who opt to complete the whole 5-session course this is a FREE programme.  Other trustees can, however, enrol to attend one or more of the sessions – though in this instance VAC fees would apply (from £25 per session).  Trustees can attend either daytime or evening sessions, or a combination of the two to complete the course.

Dates of Forthcoming Better Governance Sessions

Booking a Place

If you are interested in attending the whole course (all five core sessions) click here to download a booking form.

If you would like to attend just one or more of the sessions, click here to download the appropriate booking form and information on fees.

Course outline

You can download a course outline in a printer-friendly format (pdf) here or read on to find out more about each session.  The sessions are aimed mainly at trustees of small organisations, those who are new to being a trustee, or those who have perhaps been a trustee for a while but have received little or no training and don’t feel entirely confident in their role.  We try to make the sessions as practical and as interactive as possible.  Participants are asked to note, however, that though the content of daytime and evening sessions is the same, because the evening sessions are shorter, they tend to be more tutor led, with fewer opportunities for group exercises and discussion.

Governance and Operations Management

Trainer: Kevin Nunan

Newly appointed trustees or trustees for new organisations can lack clarity about the difference between governance and operations management. This session looks at what governance is; the function, role and responsibilities of management committees; and how the roles of trustees need to be split up between governance and operations management as the organisation develops.  

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Legal Obligations of Trustees

Trainer: Caroline Jepson

Provides an overview, and increased awareness, of the range of the legal obligations of trustees to regulatory bodies, users and employees. The session will increase trustees’ ability to comply with their obligations on employment, health and safety and other matters through appropriate policies and procedures. There will be an emphasis on the statutory rights of employees.  

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Partnership Working (half-day)

Trainer: Simone Hensby

This half-day workshop will look at the key principles in developing partnership and consortia working and the issues that need to be taken into account and planned for to ensure successful partnerships. Participants are invited to bring ideas of how they would like to work with other organisations to the workshop.

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Leadership and Strategic Planning

Trainer:  Somanah Achadoo

This practical workshop aims to equip participants with the relevant knowledge and skills to lead the strategic planning process in their organisations, and to give them the confidence and tools to develop a business and strategic plan (including a free ‘Strategic Business Planning Toolkit’).

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Financial Management

Trainer: Somanah Achadoo

The session will equip you to read and manage the financial accounts of your organisation and will increase your financial skills and knowledge to maintain a healthy control of the finances. It will also touch on how change management has an influence on financial management.

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Developing a Fundraising Strategy (optional session)

Trainer: Sarah Oyedele

This session is optional for those attending the Better Governance Programme, and, like the other course sessions, it is open to others to attend as a one-off training.  Participants will increase their understanding of what a fundraising strategy is and the steps to develop it.  The session also touches on what organisations need to do to ensure their long term financial sustainability and the role of trustees in fundraising.

Introduction to Teaching and Learning

Delivered at a Camden Adult Education Community College

Dates:  Three sessions 6, 13 and 20 February 2013 (10am – 5pm).

Trustees who complete the five core sessions of the Better Governance course and pass their portfolio can be considered for a bursary to attend this three day course.  The course aims to enable trustees to develop skills in teaching and learning. Trustees will understand the expectations of adult learners, different learning styles, what to consider when planning for teaching and learning and how to use teaching aids.  Trustees will have an opportunity to plan and teach a short session on a governance area of their choice.

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Contact us

Patricia Garcia, Training & Projects Manager

T: 020 7284 6568    E: Patricia Garcia

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